This message was edited on
January 30, 2018 at
06:14:06 AM by brian smith

Well it seems to me you’ve already delayed his race fan growth by almost two years. ;) My youngest daughter made her first full night at 1 month old. My other two were less than 6 months old. A little late because they were born in the off-season as a proper child should be.

Took my son to his first race at 2 years old to Williams Grove Speedway.......25 years later he still goes with me about 5 or 6 times a year, even though he is busy with his life. The highlight was last year for Christmas, he gave me tickets to the Knoxville Nationals.....our first time going. What is even better, he paid for the entire trip.....tickets, flights, hotel and rental car. I just had to pay for my meals and spending money. When I opened the gift and had tears in my eyes, he said "Pop this is your payback for getting me interested in racing and for dragging me along as a little kid"

Took my son to his first race at 2 years old to Williams Grove Speedway.......25 years later he still goes with me about 5 or 6 times a year, even though he is busy with his life. The highlight was last year for Christmas, he gave me tickets to the Knoxville Nationals.....our first time going. What is even better, he paid for the entire trip.....tickets, flights, hotel and rental car. I just had to pay for my meals and spending money. When I opened the gift and had tears in my eyes, he said "Pop this is your payback for getting me interested in racing and for dragging me along as a little kid"

This message was edited on
January 30, 2018 at
08:35:27 AM by MSPN
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Posted By: bgtexpress on January 30 2018 at 06:37:09 AM

Took my son to his first race at 2 years old to Williams Grove Speedway.......25 years later he still goes with me about 5 or 6 times a year, even though he is busy with his life. The highlight was last year for Christmas, he gave me tickets to the Knoxville Nationals.....our first time going. What is even better, he paid for the entire trip.....tickets, flights, hotel and rental car. I just had to pay for my meals and spending money. When I opened the gift and had tears in my eyes, he said "Pop this is your payback for getting me interested in racing and for dragging me along as a little kid"

Kid/Son of the Year! No more calls please, we have a winner......My first ever memories as a human were racing up and down the hill in turn one at Delaware Speedway, quarter mile dirt bullring just outside of London, Ontario....

My child went to the races in the womb multiple times at Knoxville, Eldora and others! :) She also attended her first race at 11 days old.... in one of the Knoxville suites otherwise there was no chance in me going to season championship night. She also waited three days after nationals to be born which was greatly appreciated. I do plan on having her at the races some this year when its warmer. Already have a pair of ear muffs for her at home.

Super Chuck and Mama Chuck brought the little Chucks since they were both infants. Once you start bringing kids you soon learn how important it is for places to keep the show moving, keep the crowd engaged, and get over at a decent time. The little Chucks have slept through many A Mains through the years, but that gets better the older they get.

Hearing protection is a must, use swimmers wax for infants and youth ear muffs for toddlers. Spend a little extra and go with 3M Peltor muffs, they seem more durable and offer better protection (find on Amazon). Throw some racing stickers on 'em and you won't have much trouble getting them to wear them.

I took my son to his first race last year 4/15/17 to Attica for the All Star Race. He was 18 months at the time and loved it. Bought him a checkered flag that he waved each time they drove by. We ended up going to about 10races together last year and my wife and parents didn't believe me that he loved it so much. I convinced them to go to Eldora for the Sprintacular/Last Call for Methonal, and once he heard the cars going from the parking lot he grabbed my wife's and Dad's hand and went "gampa gampa, mamma mamma cars," as he pulled them into the direction of the track. They were stunned about how excited he was and I just said, "Go on ahead, I'll meet you in there once I get the bags ready." My wife asked how would I find them and I told her that He knew where to sit and would take them there.

Some helpful tips, I would take some form of ear protection whether it is headphones or ear plugs. Every child is different and noise may or may not effect them. Have snacks ready as well so that you do not have to go to the concession stand constantly. Park somewhere easily accessible just in case you have to go to the car and change a diaper, and pack some extra clothes just in case. Bring a couple toys like hotwheel cars or diecast sprint cars to occupy them during down time.

Take them young. But please keep them out of the pits, or if you do go in after the races, hold unto them. We had a guy that was a nut case and let his 9 yr old climb in my sprint car after the show. WITHOUT ASKING, remember nut case ? Trully could have cared less, old daddy asked if we could push him around the pits. I asked if he was serious and boy that started it.

Took my son to his first race at 2 years old to Williams Grove Speedway.......25 years later he still goes with me about 5 or 6 times a year, even though he is busy with his life. The highlight was last year for Christmas, he gave me tickets to the Knoxville Nationals.....our first time going. What is even better, he paid for the entire trip.....tickets, flights, hotel and rental car. I just had to pay for my meals and spending money. When I opened the gift and had tears in my eyes, he said "Pop this is your payback for getting me interested in racing and for dragging me along as a little kid"

Great story. It bings back many memories of my early experiences as a race fan. I was born 9/24/47 and I have a photo dad took with mom and me on a blanket in the infield of Williams Grove dated 9/12/48. My dad was at the first race held at Williams Grove in 1939 and we went to every race at Williams Grove that was open wheel race. I took dad to many races as he got older until he was unable to to travel when he was 90. Lost him two years ago at 92. First race I remembrer was 10/21/51 because Jimmy Bryan won in the Leitenberger #45 and I picked him to win. Dad said we were at Reading in June of 51 when Lee Wallard was burned right agter he won Indy, but I can't remember it. Maybe blocked that bad deal out of memory. I took all 3 of my kids to various events when they were 6, 4, and 2 years old, but they never wanted to go again. I am taking my 5 and 3 year old grandsons to an indoor oval / figure 8 / race along with three demo derbys in Louisville, KY on March 3rd for their first events. I will also take them to the infield at Kutztown this summer when they visit and perhaps to Williams Grove infield. Just make sure what ever age they are, EAR PROTECTION IS A MUST. I waited too long before I protected my hearing and now have significant hearing loss in my left ear. Only good thing about that is I tend to keep my wife to the left of me, especially when she is mad at me! Works well!

Took my son to his first race at 2 years old to Williams Grove Speedway.......25 years later he still goes with me about 5 or 6 times a year, even though he is busy with his life. The highlight was last year for Christmas, he gave me tickets to the Knoxville Nationals.....our first time going. What is even better, he paid for the entire trip.....tickets, flights, hotel and rental car. I just had to pay for my meals and spending money. When I opened the gift and had tears in my eyes, he said "Pop this is your payback for getting me interested in racing and for dragging me along as a little kid"

That actually brought a tear to my eye. I lost my Dad a couple years back and he was always a huge influence in my racing career (announcing, promoting, etc...) and going to the races with him was one of the things I miss the most.

I made a point of taking both of my sons to the races at a young age. They were both a few months old at their first race and this past Sept they were 15 and 11 when we finished out the season down in Nebraska.

I remember my Dad bringing us when we were 5 or 6. I think it's a case by case situation. You know your son's temperment and disposition, etc. so if you think he can handle it (or better if you can handle it) then give it a shot. Just go with the guise of if he likes it aweosme we'll stay but if things go south fast then you just take off and chalk it up to easing him into it.

Hearing protection is a must. And saftey glasses if they'll keep them on. I'm not here to call anyone out but I do shudder when I see tiny infants being brought into the track. That's a lot of environmental factors (noise mostly, but also dirt, dust, etc.) for an infant. But to each his own. Super Chuck mentions Peltor earmuffs and those work well for my son (3yo). I actually think we got them at Target or Walmart. Check them out or a local sporting goods store.

I was born in November, 1960. My Dad was a Safety Man at the old track in Wilmot. My mom brought me up there every week until I fell asleep. When I was old enough to know what was going on, I still fell asleep and once we got home and my Mom put me to bed, I could hear the races from the bedroom window. I started to NOT like that at all. It was in maybe 1965, at 4 years old, that my Dad took me and let me run around the stands and I was there the whole night. I remember going every saturday after that. (He had to as he was a corner man) Dad was made track manager in 1975, 76 at the new track. I was his assistant. At 14, 15 I worked the track, watered and sheepsfooted all damn day. When there were races during the week, my Mom had to drive me over to work the track as I could not drive (legally ) yet. I opened and closed the place, turned the lights on etc. My point is, get that kid over there NOW. You have already missed too much precious time. You are never too young to start. I am so thankful for what my Dad had at the track. Never a driver, but involved nonetheless.